Following a successful 2024 event, the Whitsundays Writers Festival is thrilled to announce its 2025 From the Heart Keynote speaker—Dr Anita Heiss. An award-winning author of 25 books, Dr Heiss is a proud Wiradyuri woman, Indigenous Literacy Foundation Ambassador, and Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland.
Her novels include Manhattan Dreaming, Tiddas, and Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms, with Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray winning the 2022 NSW Premier’s Literary Prize for Indigenous Writing.
Festival Chair Karen Jacobsen expressed excitement, saying, "It's rare for regional Queenslanders to have the opportunity to meet renowned national and international writers. This is an important event for the Whitsundays and a golden opportunity for readers and writers to visit the heart of the Great Barrier Reef at one of the most ideal times of year.”
Running from September 12–14, 2025, the festival will also feature the prestigious Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards, recognising outstanding unpublished manuscripts and short stories. Supported by the Roderick Centre for Australian Literature at James Cook University, the Best Unpublished Manuscript prize includes $2500.
Writers of all levels, across Australia, are encouraged to submit entries by July 14, 2025. Submission details and entry guidelines are available on the festival’s website.
“This event will bring together creative minds in the picturesque setting of the Whitsundays. What better place to immerse yourself in the brilliance of Australian literature?” remarked Karen. “I strongly advise securing your place at the festival and booking accommodation early to fully enjoy the wonders of the Whitsundays while indulging in the myriad of events the festival has to offer.”
Visit www.whitsundayswriters.com for more information, early bird tickets, and updates on speakers and events.
Dr Anita Heiss will be a Keynote Speaker at this years Whitsunday Writers Festival. Photo supplied
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